Former McDonald's CEO Fred Turner dies at 80

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Last Updated: Tue, Jan 08, 2013 14:15 hrs

A former McDonald's CEO who helped expand the fast-food chain's global footprint and spearheaded the creation of "Hamburger University" died Thursday after suffering complications from pneumonia, the company said. He was 80 years old.

During Fred L. Turner's time as CEO from 1974 to 1987, McDonald's more than tripled its number of locations and set up shop in dozens of new markets, the company says in a statement. The chain, based in Oak Brook, Ill., now has about 34,000 locations worldwide.

Turner spearheaded the creation of McDonald's Hamburger University in 1961, the company says. The school is a training curriculum for managers, franchisees and other employees.